To be honest I can't see the point of dropping the gearbox to do a clutch. It's a lot of hassle when an engine drop is so simple. In my mind it's a bad idea.
The potential for a real rib crusher since all the work has to be done from directly underneath. A four post lift and a very robust gearbox/transmission cradle then I might consider it.....
all joking aside - the clutch is bolted to the flywheel, the input shaft from the gearbox goes through the clutch and fly wheel, so you have to 'draw' the engine off the input shaft. Whilst it is possible to take the box out and leave the engine in-situ its an unorthodox way of getting to the clutch, and needs the removal of the drive shafts too. It would be an absolute b'stard of a job and a lot more hassle than it is worth. Its a lot more work than just dropping the engine. If you don't plan to do any more work to the engine whilst it is out you wouldn't even need to jack the van or get the engine out of the engine bay so a relatively straightforward task achievable in just a couple of hours Do you need a new clutch, or does it just need adjusting?
engine removal is the only way to do the clutch as to get the box out you would have to drop it down to release the upper fuel tank mount and have to pull it backwards about 4" to get the hockey stick over the axle tube! i have done it before on my old 79 with the tdi engine as here was loads of wiring cooling sysem to disconnect so removed it like a t25 i released the engine mounts and chocked up between the sump and craddle so the engine would move forward to release the hockey stick from the top of the axle tube it was a bitch the motor will take a hour max to pull
Its not the clutch its the gear shift bushes that need doing,i'm trying to cut corners to get it done quicker
